Full-Spectrum Light, the Near-Natural Light

Many students and office workers tend to agree:   If given a choice, they would rather work in near-natural light than the much more common light put out by most incandescent and fluorescent bulbs.

So-called full-spectrum lighting, they say, reduces eye strain, headaches, glare and fatigue to make them more comfortable and efficient, especially over long periods of time.

Full-Spectrum Lighting

While there is no actual definition of “full spectrum”, the term is generally taken to mean it has some light of nearly every temperature in the color spectrum, much like natural sunlight but without most of the ultra-violet range.

Standard incandescent and fluorescent light, by contrast, is in a limited color temperature range (photographers use software or filters on their camera lenses to counter the yellow or orange cast that predominates, especially at low indoor light levels).

Full spectrum bulbs are available for overhead applications in ceiling installations and for more local, desktop fixtures that deliver more light to a smaller area, and while they tend to be slightly more expensive and require more electricity to produce a given amount of light, those who use them extensively say they are well worth the price.

 

Because of its wider color temperature range, full-spectrum light increases definition in the work area and gives a much more honest representation of color, which is critical in graphic arts and color matching for home, office, photography and automotive paints.